Eligibility criteria (applications are closed)

• Who can deliver training

  Applicants must:

  • be representative of industries, businesses or professional services located within Victoria
  • hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN since 1 January 2019
  • demonstrate experience or confidence in delivering training
  • confidently and accurately reflect the intent and content of the new laws
  • agree to enter into a funding agreement with EPA.

• Ineligible activities

  Funds provided through the program must not be used to sponsor or fund events, functions or conference forums.

• Who can receive training

  When assessing applications, EPA will prioritise those which focus on delivering training to the following audiences.

  You’ll need to show how you plan to reach these audiences, and what types of activities they do.

  Highest priority audiences

  • Small business duty holders with fewer than 60 employees.
  • Duty holders who need training the most, for example, those who don’t have environment management systems, or may not have capability to hire consultants
  • Duty holders with a level of risk to the environment and human health from the activities they undertake and will benefit most from the training

  Preferred audiences

  • Your contacts in your industry. They can be members or non-members of industry associations. We appreciate you reaching out beyond your membership base to provide training.
  • EPA aims for at least 35% of trainees overall to be in regions outside metropolitan Melbourne. Please provide details and a breakdown of potential participants.
  • Preference will be given to Victorian duty holders, however, you can apply to train those outside of Victoria who have operations in Victoria. You’ll need to demonstrate how this will be beneficial.

• What to include in your written proposal

  Include:

  • your ABN, key contact person and their details
  • confirmation that you can run a learning program between May and June 2021. If another time is more suitable, provide detail on when and why. Provide any details about how you would extend the program if demand continues
  • what experience your organisation has delivering learning
  • how you’d incorporate the learning materials into any certification or similar program you may already have
  • the training method and platform you’ll use. Some examples include webinars, learning management systems (LMS), websites, emails, cloud-based sites, phone calls and face-to-face delivery
  • what support you need, funded or otherwise. Include an itemised cost of each proposed stage of the learning program
  • the reach your organisation has with duty holders who undertake activities that may pose a risk of harm to human health or the environment from their operations. Provide the participant numbers you expect
  • details of any support you need to provide training in languages other than English. EPA can provide some support in this area. This will be at your cost. Provide details of any experience you have engaging with CALD audiences
  • your communications plan for promoting the training to duty holders
  • any further documents, refresher exercises or follow-up sessions you’ll provide to support duty holders after the training
  • your method for evaluating the training and reporting back to EPA. We require a final evaluation report. The report must include the feedback of participants through a final survey developed and provided by EPA.

• How to evaluate training

  Potential questions you could use to seek feedback

  How did the program help your awareness of the new environment protection laws?

  How well do you understand the intent of the new environment protection laws following the training?

  How confident are you in complying with the new environment protection laws following the training?

  Will you be able to use what you have learned in the training to help your staff or others you work with understand the new environment protection laws and how they apply?

• How EPA assesses applications

  An internal panel approved by EPA’s executive team will assess all proposals.

  The panel will assess proposals based on eligibility criteria.

  The panel may interview shortlisted applicants and may ask for more information to support your proposals. EPA will only provide funding agreements to partners who meet eligibility criteria and monetary value expectations.

• How EPA supports applicants

  EPA will:

  • provide learning resources such as e-learning modules, industry guidance links and financial support as appropriate to successful partners
  • provide content for training to be provided in stages by May 2021
  • provide learning resources to those partners who are unsuccessful so that they can provide support duty holders under their own capacity
  • engage with and provide support to successful partners who can generate interest and participation in the training
  • consider options to continue the program until the end of September 2021 if applicants have provided reasons.

• How to submit your application and deadlines

  Submit a proposal addressing the eligibility criteria to engagement@epa.vic.gov.au. Use the subject line ‘Industry Partnership Program proposal’.

  Submissions close on 9 April 2021.

  EPA will confirm funding agreements with partners by May 2021.

• Key delivery dates

  Submissions close on 9 April 2021.

  EPA will confirm funding agreements with partners by May 2021.

  EPA will provide content for training in stages by May 2021.

  Successful applicant must:

  • start training April–May 2021 (or as agreed with EPA)
  • end training by Friday, 25 June 2021. EPA will consider options to continue the program until the end of September 2021 if applicants have provided reasons.